With all my heart

Author: Marina Kochetova

We, people of the 21st century, can hardly imagine a day without a computer—our personal life preserver, even though it can still leave us drowning in an endless stream of information. Half a century ago, no one could have dreamed of total “computer life,” and social media didn’t exist at all.

In the Soviet Union, the main life preserver for most people was television. The mysterious world of TV drew millions to their screens. One of the most beloved and eagerly awaited programs on Central Television was “Ot vsey dushi” (“From the Bottom of the Heart”). For many years it was hosted by the audience’s favorite, Valentina Mikhailovna Leontyeva—“Aunt Valya”—known to every child for her work on children’s shows.

“From the Bottom of the Heart” aired once a month and captivated viewers of every age and background. Each episode told the story of local “heroes”—people of different professions and generations—from a particular Soviet city. Getting into a Central TV recording as an audience member was prestigious and nearly impossible; being featured on the program felt completely unreal.

In May 1977, the show came to my hometown, Tula. A couple of months before the recording, my mother told me that Moscow journalists would visit in the evening and that I had to finish my homework beforehand. Journalists often came to our home to interview my celebrated mother—the first world champion in the history of cycling. This time, two women from the youth programming division arrived: Marianna Krasnyanskaya and Alla Vasilyeva. They spent the whole evening recording the conversation and taking notes. I was dying to see what they wrote down, but I didn’t have the nerve to ask.

I assumed my “involvement” ended there. But almost two months later, Krasnyanskaya called our home and invited me—together with my mother—to the recording. I calmed myself by thinking I would simply be in the audience. If she had told me I was expected to walk onto the stage, I would have been too frightened to go.

That day I didn’t go to school—I was far too excited, dreaming of meeting the already legendary Aunt Valya. In the foyer, I was handed two large “Gulliver” candies—“from Aunt Valya herself,” for good luck. I was told she had seen my photos while studying materials about my mother. Leontyeva learned every participant’s story by heart, which required enormous focus.

We were seated in the front rows. I was so nervous that one candy melted inside its wrapper in my hot palm. Then, to my astonishment, Aunt Valya invited me onto the stage. I didn’t have to say a word—only walk up and stand beside my mother and relatives. My dream came true: I hugged Aunt Valya, and after the recording we talked and took photos. She signed them for me, and one—“To Marinochka Kochetova from Aunt Valya”—I carried for years.

I still remember her blue velvet jacket and the award on the lapel: Leontyeva was a Hero of Socialist Labor. Despite my mother’s efforts, we never obtained a recording. So imagine my shock when, 43 years later, I found that once-archival episode freely available on YouTube. Technology works miracles… and life goes on. Let’s keep living and doing everything—from the bottom of our hearts.